>readability On Wed, 17 Oct 2012, stoneboy wrote:>>> I have a little problem that I have not been able to get to the form>> required. I may need some help.>> >> here is the problem: >> >> if p(x) = ax^2+bx+c is a second degree polynomial, then prove >> >> p(x) = a(x+b/2a)^2 - ((b^2 - 4ac)/2a)>>Have you writtent he problem correctly?>No proof is possible. Consider the case b = 0, c /= 0.>>If ax^2 + c = p(x) = ax^2 + 4ac/2a = ax^2 + 2c, then c = 0.>>> Here I know the roots of the equation for the quadratic equation is>> x=(-b+sqrt(b^2-4ac))/2a >>Pleaseusespacesforreadibility!>>> and the negative of the radicand and also>> x=-b/2a is the vertex>> >>>> Which root is substituted to get the above form. Or in other words,>> how do I determine whether I use the negative or the positive radicand>> in the above equation to get the form shown above. I have simplified>> it all known ways but cannot seem to get it to that form. Am I>> barking up the wrong tree here?>> >> thanks>> >> s>>